. >> reporter: as the senate began work this morning, majority leader harry reid was still saying it was not too late. >> we believe we have a balanced plan to remove the threat of the sequester. everybody agrees, republicans around the country, about 80% of the americans agree it's the right thing to do almost 60% of republicans around the country agree it's the right thing to do. the only republicans in america that don't agree are those that serve in congress. >> reporter: democrats offered a plan to cancel the sequester and replace it with a mix of tax increases and targeted spending cuts phased in over ten years. >> it isn't a plan at all. it's a gimmick. >> reporter: republicans derided the bill. and minority leader mitch mcconnell charged president obama has manufactured a crisis. >> look: our country has a spending problem-- a pretty massive one; most of us in the chamber at least acknowledge that fact. but we can either address the problem in a smart way, or we can do it in the way he's proposed. >> reporter: another republican- - pat toomey of pennsylvania-- said the smart